A self realized person is one who indulging in spirituality detailed in Bhagavad Gita finally reaches state of Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa or Maharshi Ramana. Both Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Maharshi Ramana indulging in path of jnana yoga (absolute wisdom) succeeded in reaching state of self realization in their lifetime.
In the last about 150 years amongst 7000 million people existing world over only two self realized persons existed in this world Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Maharshi Ramana.
Reaching state of self realization means becoming a pure soul atman in the cosmic journey of life! Every soul atman manifested human form to remove dross impurities within. Only when human beings indulged in pure spirituality as per Bhagavad Gita did the cosmic journey of soul atman within expedite. Indulging in pure religious practices one does not expedite inner journey.
As per Bhagavad Gita we are primarily a spiritual person, a spirit that needs becoming a self realized person at the end of spiritual journey. To successfully indulge in spirituality detailed in Bhagavad Gita we have to all the time contemplate (indulge in chintan) on vital issues of life.
To cut darkness of ignorance, dissolving queries within, we had to realize our true inner self. Indulging in pranayama (breathing exercise) we can one day reach the source that needs breathing. Spirituality is always an inner journey completed by indulging in contemplation.
In absence of contemplation nothing in sacred texts ever become clear. Contemplation was the medium to indulge in self enquiry, Neti (not this, not this) a spiritual process practiced and preached by Maharshi Ramana. We can expedite spiritual journey multifold by mastering delicate art of contemplation. Contemplation is one contentious issue in which none wanted to indulge.
To realize self, to become a pure soul atman contemplation was the only medium, only resort. Nothing in field of spirituality or self realization can be taught by a spiritual master. The most a spiritual master can do was dissolve some of our queries. The gurukul Parampara of yesteryears was a vital means to establish a spiritual link between Acharya and the Shishya.
In a gurukul there never was time bondage. Shisyas (students) were free to indulge in spirituality but the primary means of indulgence was contemplation. Whenever a query arose, the Shishya was free to consult the Acharya.
In the field of pure spirituality the present system of education is of little help. The Acharya Shishya Parampara of the yesteryears is the only remedy. In present times spirituality has taken a back seat as gurukul Parampara no more exists. The only resort to enhancing spiritual journey in present times is indulging in literature relating to Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Maharshi Ramana. In my spiritual pursuit of life I duplicated path taken by Maharshi Ramana.
Lying in shavasna pose of yoga when going to bed in the night in subconscious state I always called for a roundtable conference consisting of Lord Krishna, Mahavira, Gautama Buddha even Jesus Christ and Prophet Mohammed apart from Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Maharshi Ramana. As the query accordingly the preceptor! In the morning when I got up all my queries put up to these preceptors had dissolved forever.
The next day the same roundtable conference with a new set of queries! At no stage of spiritual life I felt handicapped for spiritual masters.